Method for operating a camera system, camera system and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a camera system ( 2 ) of a motor vehicle ( 1 ), in which a first camera ( 3, 5, 6 ) captures a first environmental region ( 14, 16, 17 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ), and a second camera ( 4 ) captures a second environmental region ( 15 ) extending behind the motor vehicle ( 1 ), wherein the cameras ( 3, 4, 5, 6 ) are electrically connected to a control unit ( 7 ) and are controlled by the control unit ( 7 ), and the control unit ( 7 ) is connected to a communication bus ( 28 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ), wherein upon an interruption of a communication connection ( 27 ) between the communication bus ( 28 ) and the control unit ( 7 ), a rearview image at least partially including the second environmental region ( 15 ) is displayed on a display device ( 18 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) by the control unit ( 7 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating a camera system of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 capturing, by a first camera, a first environmental region of the motor vehicle; 
 capturing, by a second camera, a second environmental region extending behind the motor vehicle, wherein the first and second cameras are electrically connected to a control unit and are controlled by the control unit, and the control unit is connected to a communication bus of the motor vehicle; and 
 upon an interruption of a communication connection between the communication bus and the control unit, displaying a rearview image at least partially including the second environmental region on a display device of the motor vehicle by the control unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after an interruption it is examined at least in discrete time intervals if the communication connection between the control unit and the communication bus again exists. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a section of the rearview image is determined, and the section is displayed on the display device, if the communication connection is interrupted. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the section is determined with a predetermined scaling of the rearview image, and the section is displayed on the display device if the communication connection is interrupted. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after reestablished communication connection between the control unit and the communication bus, performing a basic mode operation, in which a determination is made by the communication bus if an image of the first environmental region or the rearview image is displayed on the display device. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rearview image is displayed on the display device after a predetermined period of time after the interruption. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication bus is provided as a CAN bus. 
     
     
       8. A camera system with an environment vision system, comprising:
 a first camera and at least a second camera, which captures an environmental region extending behind a motor vehicle; and 
 a control unit connected to a communication bus of the motor vehicle, wherein the camera system is configured to perform a method according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       9. The camera system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first camera captures a front environmental region, and the environment vision system additionally comprises a third camera, which captures a left lateral environmental region of the motor vehicle viewed in forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle, and a fourth camera, which captures a right lateral environmental region of the motor vehicle viewed in forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       10. A motor vehicle with a camera system according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the interruption of the communication connection between the communication bus and the control unit is due to electromagnetic interferences acting on the communication bus.